What are the IDEAL Excellence Awards?
Employees from across IDEAL Industries recently gathered in Denver, Colorado for the 2026 IDEAL Excellence Awards, an annual celebration recognizing the people whose dedication and service push the company forward. From product development to community involvement, this year’s recipients demonstrate what it means to build an IDEAL World across IDEAL Industries, Anderson Power, Enatel, and IDEAL Electrical.
The event featured opening and closing remarks from CEO Chris Baldwin, a keynote from Chairman of the Board Meghan Juday, and recognition of 19 employees whose achievements reflect the best of IDEAL. Some recipients were honored for advancing innovation and developing new technologies. Others were recognized for driving business results, supporting colleagues, serving their communities, or dedicating decades to building IDEAL.
This year’s awards categories included:
- Patent Award
- Milestone Patent Award
- Product of the Year Award
- Lifetime Product Sales Achievement Award
- Sales Excellence Award
- Unsung Hero Award
- Milestone Service Award
- Community Service Award
Innovation Awards: Recognizing the Ideas that Move IDEAL Forward
Earning a patent takes ingenuity, technical expertise, persistence, and collaboration. Presented by General Counsel Jeff Liebling, this year’s Patent Awards recognized inventors whose work is helping IDEAL create new solutions and valuable innovations. Chris Forthaus and Tim Tunnell were recognized for their development of new SureTrace™ Circuit Tracers, while Callum Scott was recognized for his contributions to new demand response management software in a battery charger.
While every patent represents a significant achievement, Milestone Patent Awards celebrate employees whose commitment to innovation has spanned years and, in some cases, decades. These inventors have built substantial patent portfolios and made lasting contributions to IDEAL’s future. Alan Zantout was recognized for 30 utility patents, Rob Sutter for 14 design patents, Jeff Meader for 8 design patents, and Christine Svelnis for 6 utility patents.
Sales and Product Awards: Turning Innovation into Customer Impact
Great ideas create value when they solve real customer challenges. Presented by COO Doug Sanford, the Product of the Year and Lifetime Product Sales Achievement Awards celebrate the teams behind innovations that delivered meaningful impact for customers.
The new SureTrace™ Circuit Tracer Pro and Inductive Clamp was named Product of the Year for its innovative tracing and troubleshooting features. Greg Anliker, Chris Forthaus, and Tim Tunnell were instrumental in the development of the new product.
The Lifetime Product Sales Achievement Award recognizes the people behind products that have had a significant impact on the market. These innovations continue to provide value to IDEAL’s customers.
Building an IDEAL World also means creating strong partnerships with the customers who rely on our products and expertise. The Sales Excellence Award recognizes employees who drive growth by delivering value, building trust, and representing IDEAL’s values in their interactions with customers.
Milestone Service Awards: Honoring Commitment and Community
At IDEAL, we believe careers are built over time through shared experiences, continuous growth, and meaningful contributions. Introduced at this year’s Excellence Awards, the Milestone Service Awards recognize employees whose dedication and commitment have helped shape the company across decades. This year’s 9 recipients represent a collective 255 years of work to IDEAL.
- Chris Larson, Family Assembly Chair, IDEAL Industries – 30 Years of Service
- Stephanie Lewis, Collection Administrator, IDEAL Electrical – 30 Years of Service
- Eric Nelson, IT Director, Anderson Power – 30 Years of Service
- Chris Przybysz, Chief Information Officer, IDEAL Industries – 30 Years of Service
- Kenneth Ritacco, Regional Sales Manager, IDEAL Electrical – 30 Years of Service
- Christine Svelnis, Senior Engineer, Anderson Power – 30 Years of Service
- Katherine Jensen, Marketing Executive, IDEAL Electrical – 25 Years of Service
- Michelle Koceja, Operator, IDEAL Electrical – 25 Years of Service
- Andrew Kuhns, Marketing Operations Manager, IDEAL Electrical – 25 Years of Service
Unsung Hero Awards: Celebrating the People Who Go Above and Beyond
The Unsung Hero Awards recognize employees whose everyday actions in the workplace embody IDEAL’s values of integrity, kindness, respect, accountability, and sustainability. More than 120 peer nominations were submitted for this year’s awards.
Presented by Kim Kuborn, Director of Employee Experience, the awards celebrated six individuals whose dedication, accountability, collaboration, and service help make IDEAL a better place to work.
Community Service Awards: Honoring Commitment and Making a Difference
Building an IDEAL World extends to IDEAL’s customers and community. The Community Service Awards recognize employees who make a positive impact in the communities where they live and work, embodying IDEAL’s values through service, generosity, and leadership.
Presented by Chairman of the Board Nicole Juday, these awards honored employees whose commitment to helping others reflects the spirit of giving back that is part of IDEAL’s culture.
- Samantha Barakian was recognized for mentoring high school students on a local FIRST Robotics team
- Erin Lazar was recognized for a variety of community service work, including participating in food and clothing drives and volunteering at YMCA camps
- Ajay Singh was recognized for his service with the charity Ronald McDonald House
Why Does IDEAL Celebrate Excellence Awards?
At IDEAL, we know our greatest strength is our people. Year after year, the Excellence Awards continue to recognize those who help shape our culture and bring our values to life. Programs like these awards help reinforce IDEAL’s commitment to creating an environment where employees can grow, thrive, and build a meaningful IDEAL career.
